Convertible furniture



V. IIFFIN.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3,1917. l 1,340,467. Patented May 18 1920.

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CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLIcATmN FILED Nov. 3. 1917.

Patented May 18, 1920.

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INVENTOR Va Je Ve mT/ff/'hf ATTORNEY emrah sauras PATENT carica.

VANDEVERE TIFFIN, OF TACOMA, WASI-IING-TON, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CSMBO MANUFACTURING CO., OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

specification of Letters raient. APatented May 18, 1920 Application filed November 3, 1917. Serial No. 200,455.

To ZZ whoa-a t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Vnivnnvnns TIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and btateof lVashington, have invented a new and use tul Improvement in Convertible Furniture,

i 'ot which the following is a-specitication.

This invention relates to improvements in convertible furniture, and more particularly to improvements in convertible toy furniture for the amusement of children that are playing with dolls.

The object of this invention is to provide a cheap and substantial piece of toy furniture that may be used either as a bed-crib or high chair for a doll, the same being quickly and easily convertible from one to the other.

The 'further object is to construct a piece oi toy furniture of this class, that may be made of wood as well as metal, and that has comparatively few parts, and is simple in its mode oi operation, so that any childr can readily manipulate the same.

lThe device consists essentially of a chair portion comprising seat, back, side arms and rear legs and an auxiliary portion adapted to be folded to form the front legs of a chair or extended to coperate with the chair portion and form a crib. 1

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts, as will be more clearly described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and linally pointed out in the appendedv claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the device as it may appear when it is extended to form a crib; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the same deviceas it may appear when it is folded to form a high-chair; Fig. 3 is a view in cross section on broken line 3.3 ot Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in eleva tion of a piece of furniture constructed in accordance with this invention as it may appear when extended to forni a crib, the same being similar to the device shown in Fig. 1, except that a tray and 'foot board are provided thereon for use when the device is employed as a high-chair; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. las it may appear when folded to Jform a high-chair; Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a view .in cross section substantially on broken line 8.8 of Fig. 7, certain parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, the numerals 1 and 2 respectively designate the legs upon which the body of the device is supported when it is used as a crib. The legs 1 are spaced apart and are formed integral with or rigidly secured to side pieces 3 which form the side arms of a chair section. The side pieces 3 are rigidly connected at their rear sides by a back member L and at their bottom by a seat member 5.

Hinged to the iront edge of the seat member 5, and of equal width therewith, isa bed plate 6 that is adapted to extend parallel with the seat and cooperate therewith to form a bottom for the crib when the device is extended, as shownin Fig. 1.

The legs 2 are secured to the member 6 near the outer end thereof` by pivots ,7, and are connected by a cross piece 8 adapted to engage beneath the plate 6 and 'form a stop to support the'legs in substantially vertical position when the device is used as a crib. The legs 2 are further connected by another rigid cross piece 9, which forms a brace and strengthens the supporting structure.

10 is an end plate that is pivotally secured, as at 11, to the plate .6, and extends upwardly in an angular position to form .one end ot' the crib.

The plate' 10 is connected with the side arms 8 by two oppositely disposed links 12, that serve as sides -lor the crib, the links being connected with the plate 10 by pivots 13 and with `the side arms 3 by pivots 14. The .pivots 14 are preferably in the form of thumb screws that may be tightened to insure the proper amount of friction between the links 12 andthe side arms 3.

15 are vertical supports that are Vconnected by a pivot 16 with the links 12 and are pro vided near their lower endswith slots 17 that are slidable on pins 18 disposed to proect sidewise from the plate 6 about mid-way between the two ends thereof.

lVhen the device is used as a crib the ypins 18 engage the bottom ends of the slots 17 and the plate 6 is supported by they links 15 in parallel relation with the chair seat 5.

The legs 2 are provided on the upper ,ends with ixedly secured lever arms 20, that extend outwardly and upwardly from the pivots 7, and are articulated by pins 21 with the end of links 22 that are iixedly secured by pivots 23 to the side members 3. The links 22, when thus connected, serve to turn the legs 2 upwardly into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 when the device is lolded to form a high-chair.

lhen the device is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer ends of the links 12 will be supported in an elevated position by the end plate 1() and the vertical supports 15 will serve to support the plate 6 in a horizontal position in. parallel relation with the chair seat 5. The device thus forms a substantial and rigid crib structure, the horizontal links 12, the vertical supports 15 and the side arms 3 forming the sides of the crib, the plate 6 and the chair bottom 5 forming the bottom of the crib and the back portion 4 and end plate 10 forming the two opposite ends ot the crib.

lhen it is desired to fold the device to form a high-chair, the hand may be placed underneath the plate 6 and chair seat 5 below the point where they are pivotedly connected with each other by the hinges 6 and an upward pressure exerted. At the same time the end opposite the chair portion may be lifted slightly off of the floor and turned downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the device is thus folded, the links 12 approach a vertical position and serve as the front legs of the chair, the plate 6 is turned downwardly into an angular position beneath the chair, the plate 10 is turned into a substantially horizontal position beneath the chair and adjacent to the bottom end of the legs 1 and 12 and the legs 2 are turned upwardly by the action of the links 22 into an inoperative position substantially as shown in Fig. 2 where they will be out of the way.

The friction within the pivots 14 and the engagement of the bottom ends of the links or legs 12 with the floor will maintain such legs in a substantially upright position so that the device may be used as a chair.

Vhen the device is folded the links 15 become inoperative, the pins 18 sliding within the slot 17, see Fig. 2.

1t' desired, one of the links 22 may be connected with each of the legs 2, but this is unnecessary since the legs 2 are rigidly cons nected with each other by a cross piece 8 and 9 and one link 22 on one side of the crib will serve to operate both ot these legs when the device is iolded.

rThe back portion 4 is provided with a hand hold 24, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, andthe end plate 10 is preferably provided with a similar hand hold (not shown) to facilitate lifting the device.

The convertible chair and crib, shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive. is constructed in substantially the same manner as the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, except that certain additional features comprising a tray and a foot board, together with suitable mechanism for operating the tray and foot board when the device is folded, are provided thereon.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 4 to S, the numeral 25 indicates the side arms, 26 the back, 27 the seat and 28 the rear legs of the chair portion of a piece of furniture constructed in accordance with this invention.

29 is a bed plate articulated by pivots 30 with the front edge of the seat portion and normally adapted to be supported in a hori zontal plane parallel with the seat portion to act in conjunction therewith in forming the bottom of a crib.

Legs 31 are secured by pivots 32 to opposite sides of the plate 29 adjacent the outer end thereof.

The legs 31. are rigidly connected with each other by a cross bar 33, that engages the lower side of the plate 29 to serve as a stop and limit the outward movement of the legs when the device is extended to form a crib. @ne of the legs 31 is provided with a rigidly mounted lever arm 34 that extends upwardly and outwardly from the pivot and is connected with a link 35 that is secured by a pivot 36 to the side arm 25.

It is obvious that a link may be connected with each of the legs4 31 if desired, but this is not necessary since both ot such legs are rigidly secured together by the cross brace 33.

The end of the crib opposite theback 26 is formed of two plates or members 37 and 33 that are hinged to each other as indicated at 39.

The member 37 is secured by pivots37 between rigid blocks 40 on each side of the plate 29 and the top end of the member 3S is connected on each side by pivots 4'1 with links 42. The links 42 extend lengthwise ol the crib and are connected by thumb screws 43 with the upper corners of the chair arms 25. The thumb screws 43 may be tightened occasionally to insure suflicient friction between the links 42 and the chair arms V25 to cause the links to stand in the upright position, as shown in Fig. 6, without slipping.

As shown in Fig. 4, the hinged portion of the end plates 37 and 38 will be slightly to the rear of a line jointing the centers ot the pivots 37 and 41 when the device is extended. The end plates 37 and 38 thus serve as links which slightly pass center and form a lock which will prevent the crib `from being folded to form a chair until the links are moved inwardly past center through the position shown by dotted lines.

The bed plate 29 is supported in horizontal position by vertical supports 44 that are Connected with the plate 29 by' pins 46 in the plate, that work in slots i7 in the supports.

The back portion 26 and plate 38 are preferably provided with hand holds 26 and 38 respectively.

'48 is a tray that is secured by two braces 49 to the bed plate 29, the tray 48 being adapted to lie partially within a recess 50 in the back portion 26 and the members Li9 being adapted to lie upon the seat portion of the rchair where they will be out of the way when the device is extended to form a crib.

'51 is a foot board that is cut from the central portion of the plate 29 `and is mounted, on pivots 52 so that it may be turned either at right angles or parallel with the plate 29.

The foot board 5l is pivotally connected with one end of a link 53 which, extends through an aperture 54- at one side of the foot board and has its other end pivotally connected with the lower portion of the chair seat 2T at a point slightly in the rear of the pivots 30. l

By this form of connection, it will be seen that when the plate Q9 is turned downwardly at substantially right angles to the chair seat 27, the link 5o will automatically turn the foot board 5l outwardly into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 8.

1t will, also be seen that when the plate 29 is turned downwardly into a vertical position the tray 48, which is fixedly secured thereto by the members 49, will be turned upwardly into a horizontal position like the tray of an ordinary highchair, with its rear corners adjacent the front corners of the chair arms 25.

When the device is used as a chair, the back plates 37 and 38 will fold together, as shown in Fig. 6, thus permitting the plate 29 to assume a substantially vertical position and the tray 4S and foot board 51 to be moved into their correct positions, as shown in Fig. 8.

lVhile this combined chair and crib is primarily intended to be constructed and used as a toy, it will be understood that the same may be made of suitable size and strength to be used as an infants crib and chair if desired.

It is obvious that changes in the form of construction and arrangement of the various parts of this device may be resorted to within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

l. A device of the class described coinprising a chair portion having rear legs fixedly mounted thereon, and provided with a seat, a back and side arms, a bed plate hinged to the front edge of said seat, legs pivotally mounted on said bed plate, an end plate articulated with the outer end of said bed plate, links connecting said end plate 'with said side arms and supports connecting said bed plate with said links.

2.' A device of the class described com- Jrisin a chair section having a chair back f a chair seat and side arms, legs supporting the rear side of said chair section, a bed plate hinged to the front edge of said chair seat, legs pivoted to the outer end of said bed plate, an end plate, links connecting the upper ends of said end plate with said chair arms, said links being adapted to form the front legs of a chair when they are folded, supports connecting said links and said bed plate for sustaining said bed plate in a horizontal position and means for automatically moving said pivotally mounted legs into a position where they will be out of the way when the device is folded to form a chair.

3. A device of the class described coinprising a chair portion having a back, a seat, and side arms, and provided with fixedly mounted rear legs, a bed plate hinged at the inner end to the front edge of .said seat, legs pivoted adjacent the outer end of said bed plate, stops engageable below said plate to limit the outward swinging movement of said legs, lever arms Xed to said legs and extending upwardly and forwardly from the pivots thereof, links articulated at one end with the ends of said lever arms, the opposite ends of said links being secured to said chair portion, an end plate pivoted to the outer end of said bed plate and extending upwardly therefrom, links pivotally secured to the upper end of said end plate and to said chair arms respectively and vertical supports articulated with said links and having slot andi pin connections with the sides of said bed plate.

4. A device of the class described comprisinga chair section having a chair back, a chair seat and side arms, legs supporting the rea-r side of said chair section, a bed plate hinged to the front edge of said chair seat, a foot rest pivoted on said bed plate, means for automatically turning said foot rest into the plane of said bed plate when said bed plate is parallel with said chair seat and into a plane at right angles to said bed plate when said bed plate is at right angles to said chair seat, a tray, means rigidly secured to said bed plate for supporting said tray, legs pivoted on the outer end of said bed plate to support the same in a horizontal position, means for automatically folding said legs out of the way when said bed plate is moved into a vertical position, an end plate pivoted to the end of said bed plate, said end plate being formed of two pivotally connected sections, links connecting said chair arms with the upper portions of opposite sides of said end plate, said links being adapted to form the front legs of a chair when the device is folded and supporting members articulated with said links and connected by slot and pin connections with the opposite sides of said bed plate to support the same in a horizontal position.

5. A device of the class described comprising a chair portion having side arms, a seat, and a recessed back and provided with ixedly mounted rear legs, a bed plate hinged at its inner end to the front edge of said seat, a tray, supports rigidly connecting said tray to said bed plate, whereby said tray is adapted to lie within the recess in said chair back when said bed plate is in a horizontal position and is supported horizontally in front of said chair arms when said bed plate is in a vertical position, legs pivoted adjacent the outer end of said bed plate, lever arms iixedly secured to said legs, links articulated at one end with said lever arms and at thev opposite end with'a fixed support, an end plate composed of two sections pivotally connected with each other, the bottom end of the lower section being -pivotally secured to the outer end of said bed plate, links pivotally secured to said chair arms and to the upper end of the top section of said end plate and vertical supports articulated with said links and having slot and pin connections with the side of said bed plate.

6. A device of the class described comprising a chair portion having rear legs liexedly mounted thereon and provided with side arms, a back, and a seat, a bed plate hinged to the front edge of said, seat and having a recess therein, a foot rest pivoted within said recess, a link articulated with said foot rest and with a fixed part of said chair portion to maintain said foot rest in a horizontal position when said bed plate is moved into a vertical position, legs pivotally mounted on said bed plate, an end plate comprising two pivotally articulated sections, the lower end of the lowermost of said sections being pivotally secured to the outer end of said bed plate, links connecting the upper sections of said end plate with said side arms and supports connecting said bed plate with said links.

Signed by me at Seattle, Washington, this 27th day of October, 1917..

VANDEVERE TIFFIN.

Witnesses:

E. B. HERALD, R. J. COOK. 

